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Although engulfed by dry and desolate flatlands, Hobbs, New Mexico, as well as its surrounding region, features its fair share of year-round attractions. The area offers a mixture of family-friend events and activities geared primarily toward adults. Many of the region's places of interest lie less than 30 minutes from Hobbs’ city center.

Hobbs

Located in Hobbs, the 18-hole Ocotillo Golf Course (ocotillogolfcourse.com) includes a driving range right in the middle of the course. In addition to club repair services, the pro shop offers demo and customized clubs. The course provides lessons, discounted fees for children and seniors and five- or seven-day passes. The Zia Park Casino (ziaparkcasino.com) offers a casino outfitted with 750 slot machines and video poker. In the fall, the attached track provides lives horse racing. The park features a steakhouse, upscale turf club and casual bar and grill complete with flat-screen televisions.

Lovington

The town of Lovington, just 20 miles north of Hobbs, plays host to the Lea County Museum (leacountymuseum.org). Comprised of 10 historic buildings, the grounds include a 1914 schoolhouse and 1913 post office. The museum details the region’s residents, including Native Americans, homesteaders and local heroes. Items on display include farm equipment, wagons and regional artwork. The Lea County Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Center (museumshobbsnm.org) lies on the campus of New Mexico Junior College. The museum examines cowboy living, including everything from rodeos to ranching, and displaying artifacts and recreated scenes from cowboy’s everyday lives. The museum also features short films and explores life in Southeastern New Mexico from the last 12,000 years.

Eunice

Situated just 20 miles south of Hobbs, the Eunice Public Library (elinlib.org) holds more than 21,000 books and media items. The library also features 12 computer work stations, each outfitted with Wi-Fi access. The library offers a children’s area and provides special programing, including storytime sessions. Opened in 1976, the Eunice Teen-Youth Center (cityofeunice.org) caters to kids from elementary to high school. The center features a game, TV and music room. Outdoor recreational activities include volleyball and basketball courts. The center also offers a swimming pool equipped with a playset and massive slides.

Texas

The Seminole Museum (seminoletxchamber.org) lies in the town of Seminole, Texas, less than 30 miles east of Hobbs. The museum explores life and the inhabitants of Gaines County, including such artifacts as jewelry, artwork and pottery. The museum also showcases such items as women’s fashion and quilts from the early 20th century, a chuck wagon and 19th century farming tools, as well as such oddities as a collection featuring more than 200 types of barbed wire. Based in Denver City, Texas, approximately 30 miles east of Hobbs, Yoakum County Golf Course (yoakumcountygolf.com) sits upon 6,600 yards of manicured lawn. The 18-hole, 71-par golf course hosts tournaments and academies led by PGA teaching professionals. The course also includes practice facilities, full-service pro shop and a banquet hall.

About the Author

A travel writer since 2002, Jane Gosford has written countless articles for online pop-culture magazines and various travel-related websites, including Eurobooking and World66. Gosford also has experience in copywriting, having developed a series of articles related to network marketing. She graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a degree in theater arts.